“Betrayed from Within: CDS Reveals Locals Sheltered Yelwata Killers”

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has made a chilling revelation: the perpetrators of the brutal massacre in Yelwata community, Benue State, were harbored and aided by residents of the same region.

Speaking at a high-level media briefing held Thursday at Defence Headquarters in Abuja, General Musa disclosed that some community members not only fed the attackers but also offered them shelter and women. Even more disturbing, he said, was that these informants guided the criminals to the location of an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp—directly leading to the tragic loss of innocent lives.

“These criminals were harboured by people in the community. They were given food. They were even given women,” Musa stated gravely. “They were guided on where the IDP camp was located. Yet, security forces received no information.”

General Musa expressed frustration over the initial intelligence reports that diverted troops away from the actual target, calling the attack a “hit-and-run” operation that might have been preventable with timely local cooperation.

In response to the incident, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the full mobilization of national security assets, including the military, police, and intelligence agencies, to track down and bring the perpetrators to justice.

The CDS also raised alarms over Nigeria’s porous borders, warning that armed elements from destabilized countries such as Sudan, Libya, and the Central African Republic are infiltrating Nigeria unchecked. He urged the government to adopt firm border control policies, citing Pakistan’s successful model as a potential solution.

“We must secure our borders or these threats will keep multiplying,” he warned.

General Musa extended condolences to the victims and vowed that the Armed Forces would not rest until those behind the Yelwata killings are caught. He emphasized that ending insecurity requires more than military might—it demands the active participation of every citizen.

“This is not a military problem alone. It’s a national problem. We need communities to stand with us,” he said.

During the same event, Brigadier General Ibrahim Abu-Mawashi, Deputy Director of Defence Media Operations, presented an overview of military achievements across the country over the past two years. Key figures include:

• 6,260 terrorists and criminals neutralized

• 14,138 suspects arrested

• 5,365 civilians rescued

Regional Breakdown:

• Niger Delta: ₦83 billion worth of stolen crude recovered, 103 criminals killed, 2,760 arrested

• North-East: 1,246 terrorists killed, 2,467 arrested, 1,920 rescued

• North-West: 1,374 bandits killed, 2,160 arrested, 3,288 rescued

• North-Central: 730 terrorists killed, 7,153 arrested, 1,510 rescued

• South-East (Operation Udoka): 440 terrorists killed, 1,677 arrested

• South-West: 80 criminals killed, 1,763 arrested, 89 kidnapped victims rescued

The Armed Forces also recovered thousands of weapons, ammunition, and assault rifles across various operations.

Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, Director of Defence Information, described the briefing as part of a people-centered military strategy.

“Our Armed Forces are not just fighters,” Gusau said. “They are protectors, partners in peace, and stakeholders in national development.”